Terminal block



7, 1943. .1. c. JOYCE 7 2,327,048

TERMINAL BLOCK Filed June 18, 1941 3nnenlor;

Z JA/w-s C J0 VCE. 9 /6 By M Gttorneg Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UNITED STATES PAT ENT orr cr.

6 Claims.

will engage and support and when necessary make electrical connections between conductors in a rapid and eilicient manner. It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a terminal block made of dielectric material and which comprises units by which a co posite block may be assembled to accommodate any desired number of conductors and to insure that these conductors will be electrically insulated with relation to each other and with the structure upon which they are supported. It is also an object of the present invention to supply a composite terminal block, sections of which may beremoved without disturbing or loosening the remaining conductors.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a terminal block comprising a plurality of sections made of dielectric material and carrying metallic bridging inserts, the sections cooperating to grip the insulation covering of the conductors and to positively engage the conductor itself in a manner to provide a bridging connection, the said sections being further designed so that contiguous sections may be independently secured together so that other sections may be removed without interfering with the assembly of selected contiguous sections.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing one of the base terminal block units.

Fig. 2 is .a view in perspective showing the assembly of two base terminal block units and an intermediate unit.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation showing the structure indicated in Fig. Zand disclosing the manner in which the blocks are individually secured in their assembled relation.

Fig. 4 is a. View in plan showing the contact face of a terminal block.

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section through the assembled terminal block as seen on the line 5-5 of 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l0 indicates base block units, and H indicates an intermediate block unit. The base block units are interchangeable and are preferably rectangular in plan. They have a bottom wall I2.

Opposite side walls l3 define the length of the block, and opposite end wall i define the width of the block. The face of the block opposite the plane face l2 is formed with fiat portions l5 at the ends thereof and a plurality of intermediate ribs l5, l1 and H3. The ribs are parallel and extend transversely of the block parallel to the ends I. Between these ribs are semicircular parallel grooves 19. As shown in Fig. 1, each of the grooves I! is formed with a rectangular seat 20 midway its length to receive metal inserts 2!. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. l a bridging insert 22 is substituted 2" r the inserts 2 I. It is to be understood of course that the terminal block units It] and H are made suitable dielectric material, and that the inserts 2| and 22 are preferably made of copper. A plurality of transverse serrations 23 are formed in the grooves l9 and 20, and a plurality of serrations 24 extend transversely of the exposed face of the inserts 2i and 22.. Bolt holes 25 are formed through the ends of the units is and H and when aligned will receive bolts 26. Nuts 21 are mounted on these bolts and hold the parts in a manner to be hereinafter described.

In use of the terminal block with which the present invention is concerned, a desired number of conductors 28 and 29 may be secured together between the block units. If only one set of corn ductors is secured in position these may be held between the base blocks H). II more than two sets of conductors are'tobe secured in position a plurality of intermediatet-lock units ll may be placed between the two baseblccks and secured together'by the bolts 2'6. The assembled structure may be mounted on a suitable mounting panel All with the belts 26 passing through the panel, or if desired screwed into the panel. When the block units have been assembled it will be seen that spaces 3] occur betweenthe faces l5 of contiguous units. These "are designed to accommodate nuts 21 and lock washer 21' which screwed onto the bolts 26 and may be separately manipulated to make it possible for contiguous blockunits to be spread apart or entirely separated without disturbing the set position of adja cent-block units. When the screws have been it will be seen that the conductors 28 and 23 will be placed with their insulated portions seated, within the recesses l9 and 20, and a length I anti ens. 4C

of the exposed ends of the electrical conductors positioned directly between the'metallic inserts 2| and 22. The screwsiit will tighten the methe ductile metal of the conductors to be extruded into the grooves 24 of the inserts, and at the same time the ridges 23 in the members l9 and 2% will be imbedded into the insulation of the conductors with the result that the terminal block will positively grip the insulation of the conductors as well as the metallic conductors themselves.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the terminal block' is self-insulating and may be mounted either upon a frame, panel or junction box, or if desired may be suspended by a bracket at any point. With this structure, it is not neces-. sary to use insulated bridge mountings or su-' j perfluous accessories to support the conductors, and thus the necessity for numerous stud screws for placing them is elimi- V which the inserts 22 are provided as shown in Fig. l. Furthermore, the terminal blocks may be made-to accommodate electric conductors of different diameters and may be color-coded to insure proper assembly according to wire size combinations. v

Attention is directed to the fact that the terminal block here shown is light in weight, will secure a conductor by positive pressure, and will hold the parts so that there will not be any loose connections, and so that the parts willnot become separated by vibration. 1

7 It will thusbe seen that the invention here disclosed is simple in its construction, inexpensive as to manufacturing cost, may be readily applied toconnect and hold any desired number of electrical conductors and hold themfirmly and under pressure without possibility of loosening by vibration; i I

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention "as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes may be made in com- 'bination, construction, and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the'art, without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

l. A terminal block. for holding an insulated tallic inserts disposed at a point in the length'of each of said grooves and by which pressure is exerted upon the exposed length of a conductor tallic inserts so that, there will be a tendency for disposed within the grooves and between the inserts to grip the same, the portions of the grooves at opposite ends of the inserts embracing and simultaneously gripping the insulation on said conductor, and means on the walls of said groove portions at opposite ends of the metallic inserts acting to be imbedded in tively hold the same.

3. A terminal block, comprising a series of complementary block units, means for securing said block units in assembled superimposed relation abutting to each other and whereby pairs of units the insulation to posimay be independently secured together, the series of blocks being formed with their contiguous faces shaped to receive and hold electric conductc-rs, the block units being of dielectric niateriahand metallic elements incorporated in the opposed faces of said pairs of block units intermediate the ends thereof whereby electrical convarious units to receive electrical conductors conductor having a portion with the insulation removed, comprising separate block units adapted to lie'face to face, said faces being formed with transverse semicircular conductorv grooves, and -meta1lic inserts disposed at a point in the length to=lie face torface, said faces being formed with transverse I semicircular conductor grooves;

which are clamped into position by said fastening means, metallic elements at av point in the length of said grooves to form electrical connections, the block units being of dielectric materiaL'and means carried by the fastening means for engaging the block units and independently holding the separate units in fixed relation.

5. A terminal block, including a pair of terminal block units, said units being formed with openings through their ends, afastening bolt passing through the openings to clamp the c'o-n tiguous faces of said blocks together, said faces being relieved at their opposite ends to form a space between a portion of said end faces suffi cient to accommodate nuts to individually engage the block units and to permit manipulation of said nuts, the contiguousfaces ofsaid units. being formed with complementary semicircular grooves to embrace the insulation of conductors lying within the grooves, and metallic inserts filling the center portion of said grooves to engage thewire of said conductor. 1 1

- 6. Aterminal block, comprising a pair of complementary block units, said units being substantially rectangular and of dielectric material, each unit having separate parallel transverse grooves of semicircular section extending across one'face of the block and designed to receivean insulation covered electric conductor, said conductor having a section from'which the insulation has been re moved, metallic elements fitted into the grooves at points intermediate the ends of thegroove whereby the bare section of the electric conducto will lie along said metallic portion and'theln sulation covering of the conductorand will abut against the opposite ends of theinsert and will lie along the grooves at opposite sides of the metallic memben'the transverse ridges formed across the grooves and the insertswhereby to engage and gripthe insulation and the conductor.

JAMES CHARLES JOYCE. i 

